JAMES CARRAGHER FROM MARKET WEIGHTON AND ST WILLIAM’S SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN EAST YORKSHIRE

In a series of harrowing legal proceedings, James Carragher, formerly associated with the St William’s Children’s Home in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, has been convicted and sentenced for a long history of child sexual abuse. Carragher, who has since relocated to Birkenhead as of August 2023, was at the center of a scandal that uncovered decades of misconduct at the now-closed care facility.

The allegations against Carragher span from the late 1960s through the late 1980s, with the court hearing that he was involved in abusing boys at the home during this period. The case was brought to light after Humberside Police initiated an investigation in 2001, focusing on abuse that occurred between 1965 and 1992. The home, which was owned by the Diocese of Middlesbrough and operated by members of the De La Salle Brotherhood, served as a residential care facility for boys with emotional and behavioral difficulties, primarily from Yorkshire and the North East.

During the trial at Leeds Crown Court, Carragher, who was 75 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of 21 counts of indecent assault and three serious sex offences. He was acquitted of 30 other charges, and the jury could not reach verdicts on 13 additional allegations. The court heard that Carragher’s crimes were part of a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over two decades. His previous convictions for similar offences at the same home, including a seven-year sentence in 1993 and a 14-year sentence in 2004, were also taken into account during sentencing.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC condemned Carragher’s actions, stating, “Each of you targeted some of the most vulnerable boys. You groomed them and abused them for your own sexual gratification. The victims were effectively trapped and there was no escape from you. They were confused, frightened, and in turmoil. It has blighted their lives, and each of you had contributed significantly to their misery.” The judge emphasized the severe and long-lasting psychological harm inflicted upon the 11 victims, highlighting the profound impact of the abuse.

In addition to Carragher’s conviction, Anthony McCallen, a former chaplain at the same home, was also convicted of multiple sex offences, including abuse of two boys in the 1990s. McCallen, who resides in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The court noted that McCallen had a history of misconduct, including possession of indecent photographs of boys and voyeuristic behavior, which further underscored the deeply ingrained nature of their sexual interests.

Both men are required to serve at least half of their sentences before being eligible for parole. Carragher’s previous convictions, which included a jail term in 1993 and another in 2004, were considered when determining his current sentence. The court indicated that had all evidence from the multiple trials been available, the sentence could have been as high as 30 years, from which 21 years had already been served.

The case also touched on the broader institutional responsibility. The Diocese of Middlesbrough acknowledged its role, stating that it condemned child abuse and recognized that Carragher’s betrayal was a profound breach of trust. The legal proceedings also examined whether the De La Salle Brotherhood, which provided teachers at the school, could be held liable. The Court of Appeal in October 2010 upheld a ruling that the diocese was liable for the abuse, but the Brotherhood was not, leading to an ongoing compensation claim of approximately £8 million from 158 former pupils. Victims, including Graham Baverstock from Bridlington, expressed their relief at the ruling and called for accountability and apologies from the church authorities.

Historically, Carragher’s criminal conduct was first exposed in 1993 when he was jailed for seven years after being convicted of abusing boys at the same home. His misconduct continued into the 1980s, with allegations surfacing that he had exploited his position of authority to commit numerous acts of sexual violence against vulnerable children. Despite the initial convictions, further allegations persisted, culminating in the recent convictions and sentences that aim to bring some measure of justice to the victims and hold the offenders accountable for their actions.